Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-09-10
some Points About the Famous Actress
VINO Will be Seen Here Next Saturday
Leaves from Her History-The Story of
Pygmalfon and GaIatea

regarding this charming actress, that few
leaves from her history will be interesting.
representative of the Journal ran
across Owen Ferree, Mile Rhea's manager
last evening and enjoyed a conversation with
him regarding the distinguished star he rep
resents In reply to question as to how
long Mile Rhea had been in America. Mr..
Ferree said "M'lle Rhea first came to this
country something over four years ago. and
came very quietly, notwithstanding the fact
that her fine reputation abroad entitled her
to appear with all the preliminary putting and
aourishing of old-world credentials which
usually herald the debut of foreign stars She
preferred to come modestly, and in this dis.
played great deal of good sense, inasmuch
as her almost unannounced arrival little
prepared her first audience to expect anything
wonderful. Consequently their surprise and
enthusiasm were all the more pronounced
when they saw before them an artist whose
genius ranked her among the greatest Euro
pean stars. Mile Rhea told me some time
after her initial American performance, that
previous to her departure from Europe, a
friend had strongly advised her to send to
this country lot of preliminary stories, a la
Bernhard, to the effect that she was in the
habit of sleeping in coffin and indulging in
other equally eccentric peculiarties. But
the actress replied: NO; why should say
things which am not in the habit of doing
| go to America only to act. If can act, l
shall be welcomed. Besides, you know, to
sleep in coffin is very easy. Everybody can
do that, but everybody cannot act She came
and conquered. and conquered not through
advance clap trap, but through pure art"
"Where did she make her irst appear.
ance ?"
"At Rouen. There is just tinge of ro-
nance TO her life. She was pupil at a con-
vent near Paris, when her father, who held
high social position 10 Belgium, lost his for
tune in financial crisis
"M'lle Rhea plays entirely in English does
she not?"
Eyes. And by the bye, she mastered our
tongue sufficiently well in two months time
to appear in London as Beatrice in Shakes
pesre's Much Ado About Nothing. 1t was
hard work, of course"
"Whst play will Mile Rhea present here?"
1.-THE best play in her repertoire, 'Pygma-
liam and Galatea,' one in which she has
achieved her greatest success. She is called
the ideal Galatea' ;her acting is revelation"
Pygmalion and Galstea is sufficient of a
novelty here TO afford excuse for giving its
story. Pygmslion. having married Cynisca,
carved statue of Galatea, his wife being the
model. As the work progresses he falls
deeply in love with it. Finally it is COM
completed, a perfect masterpiece, lacking
only one thing-life. He prays the gods to
bestow this attribute upon it, and his prayer
is heard. As a result, the love which he felt
for the statue is intensified a hundred fold
when the marble has been changed to flesh and
blood. Galatea returns the sculptor's passion,
and Cynisca becomes deeply jealous of her
strange rival. At the time of Pygmalion's
marriage with Cyniscs. the goddess Artemis
had bestowed on each the gift of calling the
curse of blindness on the other for coniugal
infidelity. OF this gift Cyniscs now avails
herself, beseeching Artems in a passionate
appeal. The GODDESS replies with a dash of
lightning, and Pygmalion is blind. The third
act shows the sculptor about to leave his
home. Galatea approaches him, and Pyg
maion, thinking in his blindness that it i.
his wife, tells her that he never really loved
Galates, and tina: she is to him no more than
marble statue. Gslstes shrinks under this
confession, and Cyniscs, who has overheard
it, is crushed with grief for the inirmity
which, through her jealousy, she has brought
upon her husband. Again she beseeches the
goddess Artemis, this time to restore Pyg
nations sight. Her PRAYER is heard. and the
sculptor, as a proof of bis love, consigns
Galates back to the stone from which she
came.
This brief outline will give no idea of the
brilliancy, passion and pstbos of the play.
The work, as everything of Gilbert's must
be- is most cleverly written, flashing with wit,
satire and humor.
"How is Mile Rhea's company this year?"
1.-The best she ever had, all artists in every
sense of the word, our leading man Mr.. Bell
i. considered the handsomest man on the
stage to-day"
"How is Mile Rhea's English ?"
"She speaks it like q native, am trying
10 get her to take out naturalization papers.
But there am talked out. Be on hand Sat-
urday night. Things seen you know, are
mighter than things heard, Au reroir."